@conference {2518, title = {Collecting experiences in Melanesia - best practices for efficient digitization}, booktitle = {Island Biology 2016}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, address = {Terceira Island, Azores}, abstract = {The processes of field collection of natural history specimens, keeping track of the physical specimens through the curation and distribution process, and converting data from field notebook into digital format and delivery to data aggregator, can be complex. Legacy collections are expensive and time consuming to digitize, and error corrections are often complicated to resolve. As such, developing best practices for new field collections for efficient digitization and data sharing is critical for avoiding the often repeated efforts of digitization within multiple natural history collections and propagation errors that can result. Understanding the data life cycle for natural history collections, from collection methodologies to dissemination and data sharing, requires a knowledge of the appropriate use of identifiers, and understanding data standards such as Darwin and Audubon Core. Gathering data fit-for-research-use at the time of collection, including essential data fields and supplementary information such as trait or environmental data, results in reproducible research and rapidly discoverable data. This presentation will highlight these concepts as they apply to island biology and biodiversity research, with lessons learned from experiences of fieldwork in the tropical islands of Melanesia.}, author = {James, Shelley A.} } @conference {2516, title = {Data and digital images: progress, tools and scientiἰc need for digitizing Pacfἰc biological specimen collections}, booktitle = {23rd Pacific Science Congress}, year = {2016}, month = {06/2016}, address = {Taipei, Taiwan}, abstract = {The goal of this session is to enhance international collaboration in the Pacfἰc by bringing together managers of biological collections, data managers, researchers, and educators to share stories about the current progress of digitization of biological collections from the Asia-Paciἰc region, and communicate current research projects that are using biological collections data from climate change, to invasive species distribution, to systematics. The need for sustainable digitization and data archiving in the region will be discussed. Building upon sessions held at the Paciἰc Science Inter-Congress, Suva in 2013 and the DigBio-sponsored workshop held in Hawaii in 2014 (https://www.idigbio.org/content/biological-collections-digitization- paciἰc-0), an outcome of this session is to provide resources, ideas, support and tools for the digitization of biological collections from the Paciἰc region, housed both locally and internationally, and encourage the mobilization of high quality biological collections data for specimen management, curation, and research purposes. The tools, information and data available through the iDigBio website and data portal (www.idigbio.org) will be demonstrated.}, author = {James, Shelley A. and Nelson, Gil} } @conference {2517, title = {Field to database to aggregator and beyond: documenting the flora of Melanesia}, booktitle = {Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections 31st Annual Meeting}, year = {2016}, month = {06/2016}, address = {Berlin, Germany}, abstract = {Tracking natural history specimens, from curation to distribution, along with the conversion of data from field notebook into digital format, delivery to data aggregator, and its ultimate use in research, can be a complex process. Legacy collections are expensive and time consuming to digitize, and errors are often complicated to correct. As such, developing best practices for new field collections for efficient digitization and data sharing, reproducible research and rapidly discoverable data is critical for eliminating efforts of digitization being repeated within multiple natural history collections and for avoiding the transcription errors that can result. Data sharing and use of aggregated ecological and biological data sets requires a knowledge of the appropriate use of identifiers, understanding data standards, and developing new skill sets in order to efficiently and accurately use biodiversity data. This presentation will highlight these concepts as they apply to research using biological collections data, with lessons learned from experiences of fieldwork and challenges and successes in using natural history data for studying the biodiversity of the tropical islands of Melanesia.}, keywords = {SPNHC2016}, author = {James, Shelley A.} } @conference {2499, title = {iDigBio: A Network Partner for Specimen Research and Data}, booktitle = {NatureServe, Biodiversity without Boundaries 2016}, year = {2016}, month = {04/2016}, address = {San Juan, Puerto Rico}, keywords = {conservation, data access, NatureServe, Research}, author = {James, Shelley A.} } @conference {2519, title = {Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio): mobilizing natural history collections for understanding island biodiversity}, booktitle = {Island Biology 2016}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, address = {Terceira Island, Azores}, abstract = {Advancements in digital technologies are rapidly improving efficiency in the aggregation, use, and sharing of natural history collections and biodiversity specimen data. Researchers now have access to ever increasing herbarium data sets for visualization, analysis, and modeling to assist with taxonomic research and conservation assessments. iDigBio (www.idigbio.org), the national resource for the U.S. National Science Foundation{\textquoteright}s Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections (ADBC) program, is mobilizing data and images for millions of biodiversity specimens. Voucher specimen data, both neontological and paleontological, from island communities across the globe is available in electronic format through the iDigBio web-based graphical interface (www.idigbio.org/portal/) and APIs. It provides a wealth of information for the research community, government agencies, students, educators, and the general public, including baseline data for biodiversity assessments and non-native or invasive species distribution, providing data and images for new species discovery, and assisting with efficient location of voucher specimen collections for further research. This presentation will highlight the portal, available tools, data gaps the Island Biology community may be able to help narrow, and potential research uses of the data as they pertain to expanding the understanding of the biodiversity and biogeography of island flora and fauna and the communities they comprise.}, author = {James, Shelley A. and Paul, Deborah L. and Collins, Matthew and Nelson, Gil} } @conference {2520, title = {Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio): mobilizing natural history collections for enhanced classification and conservation of Malesian floral biodiversity}, booktitle = {Flora Malesiana 10}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, address = {Edinburgh, UK}, abstract = {Advancements in digital technologies are rapidly improving efficiency in the aggregation, use, and sharing of natural history collections and biodiversity specimen data. Researchers now have access to ever increasing herbarium data sets for visualization, analysis, and modeling to assist with taxonomic research and conservation assessments. iDigBio (www.idigbio.org), the national resource for the U.S. National Science Foundation{\textquoteright}s Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections (ADBC) program, is mobilizing data and images for millions of biodiversity specimens. Botanical specimen data from the Malesian region is available in electronic format through the iDigBio web-based graphical interface (www.idigbio.org/portal/) and APIs. It provides a wealth of information for the research community, government agencies, students, educators, and the general public, including baseline data for biodiversity assessments and non-native or invasive species distribution, providing data and images for new species discovery, and assisting with efficient location of voucher specimen collections for further research. This presentation will highlight the portal, available tools, data gaps, potential research uses of the data as they pertain to expanding the understanding of the biodiversity and biogeography of Malesian flora and the communities they comprise.}, author = {James, Shelley A.} } @conference {2422, title = {Introduction to Using Digitized Data}, booktitle = {Ecological Collections Network 2015}, year = {2015}, keywords = {ECN2015, EF-1115210, Presentation}, author = {James, Shelley A. and Bills, Christy and Nelson, Gil} } @conference {2515, title = {Worldwide Engagement for Digitizing Biocollections 2016: a call to the AsiaPacific region to participate in the WeDigBio Global Transcription Event!}, booktitle = {23rd Pacific Science Congress}, year = {2016}, month = {06/2016}, address = {Taipei, Taiwan}, abstract = {During its inaugural year, the Worldwide Engagement for Digitizing Biocollections Event, WeDigBio 2015, involved thousands of citizen scientists from >50 countries in transcribing biodiversity specimen labels from a variety of taxonomic groups over four days. Participants at onsite events at museums, universities, and science classrooms, as well as those distributed individually throughout the world, used online platforms at DigiVol, Les Herbonautes, Notes from Nature, Smithsonian Institution{\textquoteright}s Transcription Center, and Symbiota to transcribe almost 30,000 specimen labels. During the event, participants learned about collections and biodiversity, interacted with researchers, played games, shared experiences via social media, and contributed to the growing database of digital biocollections information. In 2016, WeDigBio is aiming to double the number of onsite events, online participants, and completed transcriptions, and we encourage biodiversity institutions and citizen scientists within the Asia-Pacific region to take part in activities. Resources are being developed to help make the event even more fun, educational, and productive, such as: improvements to the dynamic dashboard at wedigbio.org (http://wedigbio.org/) and enhanced interoperability with transcription platforms, lesson plans for teachers, activities for participants at transcription events, and opportunities to interact with transcribers across events. Certain platforms, such as DigiVol.org, can host images of specimens from collections in the Asia-Pacific region needing assistance with transcription. WeDigBio 2016 can be a way to increase the visibility of your biological collection, engage with local citizen scientists, and expedite digitization, all while being a part of a well publicized global event. Consider being one of the many online participants helping to mobilize biodiversity collections data, or hosting a WeDigBio event at your collection, university, or classroom from October 2023, 2016. Learn more at wedigbio.org (http://wedigbio.org/). }, keywords = {poster, WeDigBio}, url = {http://www.idigbio.org/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/WeDigBio_Poster_PSC__final.pdf}, author = {James, Shelley A. and Ellwood, Elizabeth R. and Kimberly, Paul G. and Guralnick, Robert P. and Flemons, Paul K.J. and Love, Kevin J. and Mast, Austin R.} } @conference {2521, title = {Worldwide Engagement for Digitizing Biocollections 2016: a call to the Flora Malesiana community to participate in the WeDigBio Global Transcription Event!}, booktitle = {Flora Malesiana 10}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, address = {Edinburgh, UK}, abstract = {During its inaugural year, Worldwide Engagement for Digitizing Biocollections, WeDigBio 2015, involved citizen scientists from >50 countries in transcribing biodiversity specimen labels from a variety of taxonomic groups over four days. Participants at onsite events at museums, universities, and science classrooms, along with individuals across the globe, used online platforms at DigiVol, Les Herbonautes, Notes from Nature, Smithsonian Institution{\textquoteright}s Transcription Center, and Symbiota to transcribe almost 30,000 specimen labels. Participants learned about collections and biodiversity, interacted with researchers, played games, shared experiences via social media, and contributed to the growing database of digital biocollections information. WeDigBio 2016 is aiming to double the number of onsite events, online participants, and completed transcriptions, and we encourage herbaria and citizen scientists of the Flora Malesiana community to take part in activities. Resources are being developed to help make the event even more fun, educational, and productive, such as: improvements to the dynamic dashboard at wedigbio.org, enhanced interoperability with transcription platforms, lesson plans for teachers, activities for participants at transcription events, and interaction between transcribers across events. Certain platforms, such as DigiVol.org, can host images of specimens collections from the Malesian region needing transcription. WeDigBio 2016 can be a way to increase the visibility of your herbarium, engage with local citizen scientists, and expedite digitization of botanical specimens, while being a part of a well-publicized global event. Consider being one of the many online participants helping to mobilize biodiversity collections data, or hosting a WeDigBio event from October 20-23, 2016. Learn more at wedigbio.org. }, keywords = {poster}, url = {https://www.idigbio.org/sites/default/files/poster-files/WeDigBio_Poster_FlMal_small.pdf}, author = {Ellwood, Elizabeth R. and James, Shelley A. and Kimberly, Paul G. and Guralnick, Robert P. and Flemons, Paul K.J. and Love, Kevin J. and Mast, Austin R.} }